Daily Current Affairs – 19 May 2026

Comprehensive information on major national and international developments as of May 19, 2026, is provided here for candidates preparing for competitive examinations. To strengthen the technological and strategic partnership between India and the United States, a brand new initiative called ‘TRUST’ was launched on February 13, 2025. As part of this framework, it was decided to enhance mutual cooperation in the atomic energy sector through the Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group (CNEWG). Under this, both nations reviewed the progress of the proposed Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power project at Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh. As part of the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ target, India aims to scale up its current nuclear power capacity from 8.8 GW to 100 GW by the year 2047. To achieve this, a major policy reform named the ‘SHANTI Act, 2025’ was enacted to facilitate greater participation of the private sector and foreign investment. Additionally, the government allocated nearly ₹20,000 crore to support the indigenous development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

On the other hand, to empower women-led rural enterprises, the Ministry of Rural Development organized a national consultation on ‘SHE-MARTs’ (Self Help Entrepreneurs-Marketing Avenues for Rural Transformation) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Through this scheme, the government aims to create an additional 3 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ by 2029. In Chhattisgarh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera Jan Suvidha Kendra’. It is significant that this center was set up in Netanar village, the birthplace of the revered tribal martyr Veer Gundadhur, who led the historic Bhumkal Rebellion of 1910 against British colonial rule. Through the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ scheme, basic amenities are being delivered directly to these former security-compromised villages. Meanwhile, Shri Saurabh Vijay, a 1998 batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, officially assumed charge as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDONER), the ‘Mission Coffees of Nagaland’ was launched with a budget of ₹175 crores to promote coffee plantation as a sustainable alternative to shifting cultivation. In the defense sector, India-Vietnam bilateral relations were elevated to an ‘Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ during the Raksha Mantri’s visit. Lastly, the Indian Naval Ship ‘IOS Sagar’ concluded its three-day port call in Sri Lanka and departed for Kochi. Upon its departure, it participated in a joint ‘PASSEX’ (Passage Exercise) with the Sri Lanka Navy Ship ‘SLNS Nandimithra’ off the coast of Colombo to enhance maritime interoperability.